Security Guard Salary in Louisville, KY
Security Guards in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area earn a median $36,420 a year — 4% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,286 take-home, or $2,524 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median security guard salary in Louisville, KY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,190
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,258
- Medicare (1.45%)$528
- Kentucky income tax$1,157
- Take-home pay$30,286
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 3.50% state
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro spans Kentucky, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Security Guard pay by experience in Louisville, KY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $28,810 | $13.85 | $24,438 | $2,037 |
| 25th percentile | $34,490 | $16.58 | $28,803 | $2,400 |
| Median (50th) | $36,420 | $17.51 | $30,286 | $2,524 |
| 75th percentile | $43,800 | $21.06 | $35,958 | $2,996 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,350 | $26.13 | $44,066 | $3,672 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Kentucky resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,420 buys in Louisville, KY
Prices in Louisville, KY are 6.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median security guard's $30,286 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,540 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Security Guard jobs are about as common in Louisville, KY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for security guards, adjusted for cost of living
Louisville, KY ranks #111 of 224 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Idaho Falls, ID | $78,680 | $61,120 | $64,737 |
| 2 | Kennewick, WA | $54,670 | $46,107 | $46,071 |
| 3 | Lynchburg, VA | $49,480 | $39,906 | $44,656 |
| 4 | Rochester, MN | $47,790 | $38,841 | $42,767 |
| 5 | Albuquerque, NM | $44,780 | $37,202 | $38,937 |
| 6 | Utica, NY | $44,420 | $36,070 | $38,919 |
| 7 | Fayetteville, NC | $42,940 | $35,478 | $38,572 |
| 8 | Omaha, NE | $42,370 | $35,176 | $38,272 |
| 111 | Louisville, KY | $36,420 | $30,286 | $32,540 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 224 metros →
Security Guard salaries elsewhere in Kentucky
- Lexington, KY — $35,400
- Owensboro, KY — $31,440
Frequently asked questions
How much does a security guard make in Louisville, KY?
The median security guard salary in the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area is $36,420 a year, or about $17.51 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,490 and $43,800.
What is a security guard’s take-home pay in Louisville, KY?
On the median $36,420 salary, a single filer living in Kentucky takes home about $30,286 a year ($2,524 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,157 in Kentucky taxes in 2026.
Is Louisville, KY a good place to work as a security guard?
Pay here is 4% below the national median of $38,020. Local prices are 6.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,540 would in a typical U.S. city. Louisville, KY ranks #111 of 224 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a security guard afford rent in Louisville, KY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Louisville, KY is $1,026 a month ($1,248 for two bedrooms) — 41% of a median security guard’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Louisville, KY
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $95,610
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $63,220
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $58,310
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $45,330
- Firefighter — $45,160
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $29,870